Structure of a folding umbrella

ABSTRACT

A novel structure of a folding umbrella comprises a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at its base end to an upper rib-holder, a main rib pivotally connected at its base end to an intermediate rib-holder, a strut pivotally connected at its base end to a lower rib-holder and at its tip end to an intermediate portion of said main rib, an end rib pivotally connected at its base end to an tip end of said main rib and connected at its intermediate portion to a tip end of said cover rib. The structure is capable of automatically expanding an end rib into alignment with a main rib by pushing up a lower rib-holder, for opening the umbrella and automatically folding back said end rib onto a cover rib only by pulling down the lower rib-holder, for closing the umbrella. With such a structure, the umbrella may be closed either in a collapsed form or in an extended form.

United States Patent 1191 Kida et al. [4 1 May 15, 1973 [54] STRUCTURE OF A FOLDING 2,761,461 9/1956 Mappin et al ..135 25 R B LA 1,114,367 10 1914 Kozlowski et al ..135 R [76] Inventors: Nobutoshi Kida, No. 1-27, Minami [22] Filed: May 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 147,349

[] Foreign Application Priority Data June 1, 1970 Japan ..45/47777 Dec. 25, 1970 Japan ..45/129646 Dec. 28, 1970 Japan ..45/127160 [52] US. Cl. "13 5/25 [51] Int. Cl. ..A45b 19/04 [58] Field of Search".. ..l/20, 25

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,964,292 6/1934 Livingston ..l35/25 R Nonin-cho, Osaka; Kazo Saito, No. 9-374, Ohtori Naka-machi, Sakai; Junichi Furukawa, No. 3-9-10, Sone Higashi-cho, Toyonaka, all of Japan Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell A ttorney Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [57] ABSTRACT A novel structure of a folding umbrella comprises a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at its base end to an upper ribholder, a main rib pivotally connected at its base end to an intermediate rib-holder, a strut pivotally connected at its base end to a lower rib-holder and at its tip end to an intermediate portion of said main rib, an end rib pivotally connected at its base end to. an tip end of said main rib and connected at its intermediate portion to a tip end of said cover rib. The structure is capable of automatically expanding an end rib into alignment with a main rib by pushing up a lower ribholder, for opening the umbrella and automatically folding back said end rib onto a cover rib only by pulling down the lower rib-holder, for closing the umbrella. With such a structure, the umbrella may be closed either in a collapsed form or in an extended 'form.

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATEHTED W1 51973 SHEET 5 BF 6 INVENTORS FIG.10

Z, wk W MW v 0 A 7 H wmm A #Z% 1 STRUCTURE OF A FOLDING UMBRELLA This invention relates to a folding umbrella, more particularly to a structure of a folding umbrella which is capable of automatically expanding an end rib into alignment with a main rib by pushing up a lower ribholder for opening the, umbrella and automatically folding back the end rib on a cover rib by pulling down the lower rib-holder for closing the umbrella from its opened position.

Conventional folding umbrellas have a structure in which an end rib is pivotally connected to a main rib (in this case, the main rib is a support rib which forms a contour of an umbrella) through a connecting means and connected to a coiled tension spring having a wire running along the main rib formed in -shape and pivotally connected to an upper rib-holder or an intermediate rib-holder. The conventional folding umbrellas of this kind have such a disadvantage that when a stronger spring is employed, larger force is required to open the umbrella and when a weaker spring is employed, the end rib cannot be firmly retained in the position aligned with the main rib. The umbrellas have further shortcomings such as wear of the spring, abrasion of the main rib due to the rubbing by the wire, distortion of the connecting means for connecting the main rib and the end rib, resulting in shortening of the umbrella life or preventing a smooth opening of the umbrella.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella which is capable of automatically expanding an end rib into alignment with a main rib by the opening operation of the umbrella without employing a tension spring for pulling the end rib and capable of automatically folding back the end rib on a cover rib.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella having a spring provided in or on a center rod for automatically extending an end rib, at the beginning of the opening operation, thereby preventing the umbrella from being opened reversely or inside out.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella in which the number of springs to be employed is minimized, thereby to facilitate the manufacturing and maintenance.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a folding umbrella which is capable of being closed and carried in the extended, or uncontracted state.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious from the contents of the specification hereinafter disclosed.

Essentially according to the present invention, there is provided a structure ofa folding umbrella comprising a contractile center rod; an upper rib-holder fixedly mounted on said contractile center rod; an intermediate rib-holder; a lower rib-holder; said intermediate ribholder and said lower rib-holder being slidably mounted on said contractile center rod; a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at its base end to said upper rib-holder, a main rib pivotally connected at its base end to said intermediate rib-holder, a strut pivotally connected at its base end to said lower rib-holder and at its tip end to an intermediate portion of said main rib, an end rib pivotally connected at its base end to an tip end of said main rib and connected at its intermediate portion to a tip end of said cover rib, whereby said end rib is brought into alignment with said main rib for opening the umbrella by pushing up said lower rib-holder and said end rib is automatically brought to be folded back on said cover rib for closing the umbrella by pulling down said lower rib-holder.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of an umbrella construction embodying the present invention, in opened position;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the umbrella construction shown in FIG. 1, in closed position;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the umbrella construction shown in FIG. 1, in partially opened position;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of another umbrella construction also embodying the present invention, in opened position;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the umbrella construction shown in FIG. 4, in closed position;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the umbrella construction shown in FIG. 4, in partially opened position;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a part of FIG. 4 relevant to a spring provided therein;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 7 taken along line VIII VIII;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional line IX IX;

' FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a part of an umbrella construction relevant to a spring provided thereon;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory view similar to FIG. 10, showing another form of spring;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of another umbrella construction embodying the present invention, in opened position;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view of a further umbrella construction also embodying the present invention, in opened position;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory view of the umbrella construction shown in FIG. 13, in partly closed position; and

FIG. 15 is an explanatory view of the umbrella construction shown in FIG. 13, in closed position.

In'the drawings, like parts or portions are designated by like reference numerals.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is illustrated a construction of a folding umbrella according to the present invention. An upper rib-holder 2 is fixedly mounted on a contractile center rod 1. An intermediate rib-holder 3 and a lower rib-holder 4 are slidably mounted on said center rod 1. A base end of a cover rib S is pivotally connected to said upper rib-holder 2 at an annular groove 2a in a conventional manner. Alike said cover rib 5, a main rib 7 and a strut 8 are pivotally connected at their base ends respectively to the intermediate rib-holder 3 and the lower rib-holder 4 at annular grooves 3a and 4a. A bearing piece 7a is fixed to a tip end of said main rib 7. To said bearing piece is pivotally connected a tip end of said end rib 6 with a pin 7a1. Another bearing piece 6a is fixed to said end rib 6 at its intermediate portion. To said bearing piece 6a is pivotally connected a tip end of said cover rib 5 with a pin 6al. A still another bearing piece 7b is fixed to said main rib 7 at its intermediate portion. To said bearing piece 7b is pivotally connected a tip end of said strut 8 with a pin 7bl.

view of FIG. 7 taken along In use, to open the umbrella from the position as shown in FIG. 2, lower rib-holder 4 is to be pushed upward to draw up the main rib 7 together with the intermediate rib-holder 3 through the strut 8 and the bearing piece 7b. Depending upon the movement of the main rib 7, the base portion of the end rib 6 is drawn upward through the bearing piece 7a. Said end rib 6 is turned around the pin 601 in the direction'of an arrow an according to the movement of said main rib 7 as shown in FIG. 3. The lower rib-holder 4 is to be further pushed upwardly (in fact, the lower rib-holder is pushed upwardly by one operation without interruption) to draw up the strut 8. As said strut 8 is drawn up, said main rib 7 is expanded turning around annular groove 3a, said end rib 6 around the pin 6al, and resultantly the cover rib is expanded turning around the annular groove 2a through the bearing piece 6a until the umbrella is fully opened as shown in FIG. 1. The open position of the umbrella is maintained by a resilient detent provided on the center rod 1 for retaining said lower rib-holder 4 at its uppermost position.

When the umbrella is required to be closed from the position as shown in FIG. 1, the lower rib-holder 4 is to be pulled down. I

In brief, the umbrella according to the present invention can be automatically opened only by pushing up the lower rib-holder 4 without employing a spring and automaticallyclosed and folded only by lowering said lower rib holder 4.

Another construction of a folding umbrella having a tension spring on or in a center rod is illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 11. An upper rib-holder 2 is secured to a center rod 1 at its upper portion by a screw 10. More particularly, as can be seen in FIG. 7, said upper rib holder 2 is engaged with and caulked to said screw 10 which is secured to the upper rib holder 2. A ferrule (not shown) is provided above said screw 10. A pin 1] acts to secure said screw 10 to the center rod 1. The foregoing mechanism may, of course, be applied to another embodiment of the present invention. An intermediate rib-holder 3 and a lower rib holder 4 are slidably mounted on the center rod 1. A pin 12 is inserted in said intermediate rib-holder 3 in the diametrical direction. Another pin 13 is inserted in the center rod 1 in the diametrical direction under the screw 10. Be-

tween the pins 12 and 13 is provided a tension'spring 9. On the center rod 1 there is formed a guide slot la for the pin 12.

A base portion of a cover rib 5 is inserted in a guide groove 2b and pivotally connected at an annular groove 2a. Alike the cover rib 5, a main rib 7 and a strut 8 are pivotally connected respectively to an intermediate and a lower rib holder 3 and 4 at annular grooves 3a and 4a in a well known method. A bearing piece 7a is fixed to a tip end of said main rib 7. To said bearing piece 7a is pivotally connected a tip end of said end rib 6 with a pin 7al. Another bearing piece 6a is fixed to said end rib 6 at its intermediate portion. To said bearing piece 6a is pivotally connected a tip end of said cover rib 5 with a pin 6a1. A still another bearing bearing 7b is fixed to said main rib 7, at its intermediate portion. To said bearing piece 7b is pivotally connected a tip end of said strut 8 with a pin 7b].

' At the portion of the center rod 1 where the lower rib-holder 4 is fully lowered (the umbrella is completely closed) there is provided a resilient detent (not shown)which is adapted to project through a slot formed on a tubular portion of the lower rib-holder 4 to lock said lower rib-holder 4 and prevent the interme-' diate rib-holder 3 from moving.

In use, depression of said resilient detent or release thereof from the slot will pull up the lower rib-holder 4 and, resultantly, the intermediate rib-holder 3 by virtue of the action of the tension spring 9. Then, the main rib 7 is pulled up and the end rib 6 is expanded turning around a pin 701 in the direction of an arrow a depicted in FIG. 5. Thus, the umbrella will be opened to the position as shown in FIG. 6 through the position as shown in 5.

In this connection, it is to be noted that when a stronger spring is employed, the umbrella is capable of being automatically opened without manually pushing up the lower rib-holder 4.

In any case, at the time of opening the umbrella, such a spring serves to bring the end rib into the position where said end rib to expand in the direction of arrow a ,does not yield to the tension of a covering cloth (not shown). Stated illustratively, when the covering cloth contains a lot of water and the cloth sticks to each other, or when the umbrella neatly folded is required to be opened, or, especially, when the umbrella is required to be opened upside down, the umbrella is apt to be opened reversely or inside out at the end rib 6. Even in such a case, if the spring for pulling up the intermediate rib-holder 3 or urging said rib-holder towards the upon rib-holder 2 is employed, the lower ribholder 4 is drawn upwardly to perform a normaly opening of the umbrella.

Turning now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is illustrated a variation of the umbrella construction as shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, especially in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a coiled tension spring 14 provided around a center rod 1 between an upper rib-holder 2 and an intermediate rib-holder 3 and a coiled compression spring 15 which may be alternatively employed. Said-spring 15 is provided around the center rod 1 between the intermediate rib-holder 3 and a projection for holding the spring 15 for the purpose of pulling up the intermediate rib-holder 3.

In FIG. 11 is shown another form of spring 16 whose terminals are fixed to the upper rib-holder 2 and the intermediate rib-holder 3. At least two such springs are preferably employed for the purpose in the present construction.

The springs 14, 15 and 16 have the same function as of the spring 9 shown in FIG. 7.

Still another form of an umbrella construction according to the present invention which is capable of being closed and held in an extended or uncontracted form is shown in FIG. 12. In the present umbrella construction, the length is variable of at least one of two sides, which are respectively defined by a first joint 2a of the upper rib-holder and the cover rib and a second joint 60 of said cover rib and the end rib, and a third joint 30 of the intermediate rib-holder and the main rib and said second joint, of a triangle formed in the open position of the umbrella by the first, second and third joints. In the present construction as shown in FIG. 12, a bearing piece 7a has a guide slot 702 along which a pin 6b provided on a base portion of an end rib 6 is slidable to vary the length of the side defined by the second and third joints 6a and 3a, as different from the foregoing umbrella constructions.

In this connection it is to be restated that the umbrella construction according to the present invention is capable of being automatically folded by pulling down the lower rib-holder 4 and accordingly, that when the lower rib-holder 4 is lowered to some extent, the end rib 6 begins to be folded back towards the cover rib 5. In the present construction, when the lower ribholder 4 is lowered to the position as shown in FIG. 3, the end rib 6 may be gathered towards a center rod 1 due to said guide slot 702 and said pin 6b to keep said end rib 6 in alignment with the main rib 7 again for I neatly closing the umbrella in said extended form. At

this time, the pin 6b located at the rightmost position of the guide slots 7a2 in FIG. 12 slides to the left to vary the length of the side defined by 3a and 6a. Thus the umbrella can be closed in an uncontrated state.

For gathering a tip end of the end rib 6 towards the center rod 1 is shown in FIG. 12 a slide means provided at the bearing piece 7a but, of course, other appropriate means may be employed for the purpose.

In FIGS. 13 to 15, there is illustrated still another umbrella construction embodying the present invention. An upper rib-holder 2 has a recess for receiving an intermediate rib-holder 3.

When a lower rib-holder 4 is lowered to the position as shown in FIG. 14, an end rib 6 may be gathered to a center rod 1. When the end rib 6 is gathered towards the center rod 1 said intermediate rib-holder 3 enters said recess 20 of the upper rib-holder 2 through the medium of a main rib 7, and the end rib 6 is closed in alignment with the main rib 7 as shown in FIG. 15. Alternatively, the lower rib-holder 4 may be pushed upwardly a bit from the position as shown in FIG. 14 to close the umbrella in uncontracted state as shown in FIG. 15.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding umbrella'comprising:

a contractile center rod;

an upper rib-holder fixedly mounted on said contractile center rod;

an intermediate rib-holder;

a lower rib-holder;

said intermediate rib-holder and said lower ribholder being slidably mounted on said contractile center rod;

a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at a first joint at its inner end to said upper rib-holder,

a main rib pivotally connected at a third joint at its inner end to said intermediate rib-holder,

a strut pivotally connected at its inner end to said lower rib-holder and at its outer end to an intermediate portion of said main rib,

an end rib pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of'said main rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said main rib about a single pivot axis and connected at a second joint at its intermediate portion to the outer end of said cover rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said cover rib about a single pivot axis,

said first, second and third joints lying at the corners of a triangle in the open position of the umbrella with the first side of the triangle extending from the first joint to the second joint and the second side of the triangle extending from the third joint to the second joint;

at least one of said first and second sides including means for altering the length of that side during opening and closing movement of the umbrella;

whereby said umbrella is opened by'pushing up said lower rib-holder and is closed by pulling down said lower rib-holder and, in said closed position, said end rib can be positioned in alignment with the main rib.

- 2. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for altering the length of the side comprises a sliding connection between the inner end of said end rib and the outer end of the main rib so that said inner end of said end rib can slide lengthwise along said main rib.

3. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper rib holder has a recess for receiving therein said intermediate rib holder, thereby to enable the umbrella to be closed in an uncollapsible state in which said end rib is kept in alignment with said main rib.

4. A folding umbrella comprising:

a contractile center rod;

an upper rib-holder fixedly mounted on said contractile center rod;

an intermediate rib-holder;

a lower rib-holder;

said intermediate rib-holder and said lower ribholder being slidably mounted on said contractile center rod;

a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at its inner end to said upper rib-holder,

a main rib pivotally connected at its inner end to said intermediate rib-holder,

a strut pivotally connected at its inner end to said lower rib-holder and at its outer end to an intermediate portion of said main rib,

an end rib pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of said main rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said main rib about a single pivot axis and connected at its intermediate portion to the outer end of said cover rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said cover rib about a single pivot axis,

said upper rib-holder having a recess in its underside,

said recess being of larger size than said intermediate rib-holder so that said intermediate rib-holder can be received in said recess in the fully closed position of the umbrella to enable the end rib to be positioned in alignment with the main rib.

5. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 4, in which said main rib is substantially parallel with said cover rib in the open position of said umbrella.

6. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover rib is connected to the upper rib-holder at a first joint, the outer end of the cover rib is connected to the end rib at a second joint and the main rib is connected to the intermediate rib-holder at a third joint,

said first, second and third joints lying at the corners of a triangle in the open position of the umbrella with the first side of the triangle extending from the first joint to the second joint and the second side of the triangle extending from the third joint to the second joint;

at least one of said first and second sides including means for altering the length of that side during opening and closing movement of the umbrella. 

1. A folding umbrella comprising: a contractile center rod; an upper rib-holder fixedly mounted on said contractile center rod; an intermediate rib-holder; a lower rib-holder; said intermediate rib-holder and said lower rib-holder being slidably mounted on said contractile center rod; a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at a first joint at its inner end to said upper rib-holder, a main rib pivotally connected at a third joint at its inner end to said intermediate rib-holder, a strut pivotally connected at its inner end to said lower ribholder and at its outer end to an intermediate portion of said main rib, an end rib pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of said main rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said main rib about a single pivot axis and connected at a second joint at its intermediate portion to the outer end of said cover rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said cover rib about a single pivot axis, said first, second and third joints lying at the corners of a triangle in the open position of the umbrella with the first side of the triangle extending from the first joint to the second joint and the second side of the triangle extending from the third joint to the second joint; at least one of said first and second sides including means for altering the length of that side during opening and closing movement of the umbrella; whereby said umbrella is opened by pushing up said lower ribholder and is closed by pulling down said lower rib-holder and, in said closed position, said end rib can be positioned in alignment with the main rib.
 2. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, in which said means for altering the length of the side comprises a sliding connection between the inner end of said end rib and the outer end of the main rib so that said inner end of said end rib can slide lengthwise along said main rib.
 3. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper rib holder has a recess for receiving therein said intermediate rib holder, thereby to enable the umbrella to be closed in an uncollapsible state in which said end rib is kept in alignment with said main rib.
 4. A folding umbrella comprising: a contractile center rod; an upper rib-holder fixedly mounted on said contractile center rod; an intermediate rib-holder; a lower rib-holder; said intermediate rib-holder and said lower rib-holder being slidably mounted on said contractile center rod; a plurality of rib assemblies each comprising a cover rib pivotally connected at its inner end to said upper rib-holder, a main rib pivotally connected at its inner end to said intermediate rib-holder, a strut pivotAlly connected at its inner end to said lower rib-holder and at its outer end to an intermediate portion of said main rib, an end rib pivotally connected at its inner end to the outer end of said main rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said main rib about a single pivot axis and connected at its intermediate portion to the outer end of said cover rib for relative pivotal movement with respect to said cover rib about a single pivot axis, said upper rib-holder having a recess in its underside, said recess being of larger size than said intermediate rib-holder so that said intermediate rib-holder can be received in said recess in the fully closed position of the umbrella to enable the end rib to be positioned in alignment with the main rib.
 5. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 4, in which said main rib is substantially parallel with said cover rib in the open position of said umbrella.
 6. A folding umbrella as claimed in claim 4, in which the cover rib is connected to the upper rib-holder at a first joint, the outer end of the cover rib is connected to the end rib at a second joint and the main rib is connected to the intermediate rib-holder at a third joint, said first, second and third joints lying at the corners of a triangle in the open position of the umbrella with the first side of the triangle extending from the first joint to the second joint and the second side of the triangle extending from the third joint to the second joint; at least one of said first and second sides including means for altering the length of that side during opening and closing movement of the umbrella. 